Flyers cut loose goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, buy out remainder of contract

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, of Russia, watches the puck go into the net for a goal by New Jersey Devils' Andrei Loktionov during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in Newark, N.J. The Devils won 5-2. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

The Flyers have officially cut ties with goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, not even waiting the required 48 hours after the end of the Stanley Cup finals to let their intentions be known.

Bryzgalov is thus made a compliance buyout “victim,” meaning he is eligible for a $23 million payout distributed equally over the next 14 years.

For that, the Flyers are able to wipe out the $5.66 million salary cap hit Bryzgalov would have incurred over the next seven years. He becomes the second player announced as an “amnesty clause” buyout, the other being Danny Briere. Both players will become unrestricted free agents as soon as the paperwork is approved by the league.

Reached via phone, Bryzgalov’s reaction was short and not-so-sweet.

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“Congratulations to you guys,” Bryzgalov said. “I don’t want to talk to you guys.”

With that, the Flyers are left with Steve Mason as their No. 1 goaltender. They are expected to pursue another goalie when the free agency period commences July 5.

In a statement, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said, “I met with Ilya this morning and informed him that we are going to exercise a compliance buyout of his contract. This was a very difficult business decision to make for us and we want to thank Ilya for his time here and wish him all the best moving forward.”